The new 66 Avenue Bridge in Makkah was built to improve safety, traffic flow and better connect the Makkah community. This comes after a few years of construction and more than a decade of planning efforts.

The bridge connects the Mecca community of Highway 86 to downtown businesses, community services and homes. It will provide much easier access to transportation as well as safe access for cyclists and pedestrians without having to cross the tracks.

The 66 Avenue Bridge has one lane of traffic in each direction, one lane separated by a barrier for bicycle and pedestrian access, and includes the Makkah Community logo in its design. The project also includes three new intersections with traffic lights.

It will be open to traffic on Monday, March 14.

The community is invited to the inauguration of the bridge on Saturday at 11 a.m. Supervisor V. Manuel Perez and the Riverside County Department of Transportation will be in attendance.

The community event will include a performance by Mariachi Nuevo Amanecer, exhibit vehicles from local agencies, light refreshments and the dedication of the new bridge.

Construction on the Avenue 66 Grade Separation Project began in May 2020. The project was made possible by a multimillion-dollar contract from the Transportation and Land Management Agency.

Before the construction of the bridge, a roundabout connected the streets of Makkah. But trains pass through the area several times a day, often causing traffic jams and forcing drivers to wait several minutes to pass.